Monday, November 30, 2009

BU vs. Texas Tech, Nov. 28, 2009

Merry Christmas, Everyone! My 2 older children and I were privileged to attend the Baylor-Tech football game last weekend. It was played in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, a very impressive structure! I took a few pictures with my early Christmas present: a new Motorola Droid phone. Let me know how you like the pictures.







































































































































Monday, October 5, 2009




Here are 2 photos taken at last month's Care Net banquet. Since our firm paid for a table, my daughter Ruth and I got to meet former Governor Mike Huckabee, and get our picture made with him.


Dr. and Mrs. Gary Williams also sat with us, and while I was tracking them down in the Ferrell Center (where the Baylor basketball teams play--Sic 'em Bears!), a Waco Tribune photographer snapped a photo of the 3 of us.




Gary has Today's Family Dental, and I can highly recommend him and his staff. They have been great for our family, handling our children's dental needs with "kid gloves." Gary's wife Sandra helps out at the office, and she also has a scrapbooking business. For those of you who are like I was with a mental image of a dusty scrapbook with pictures and clippings falling out, you need to see the cool digital stuff that Sandra does! It's also nice to have a dentist who prays for you!!


I loved how Care Net director Deborah McGregor inspired us to embrace her vision that within the next few years, abortions will not be needed in our area. Please pray with me that this will be accomplished soon.



Anyway, Gov. Huckabee did a great job. Even though I may not agree with all his positions, he is head and shoulders above almost all other candidates, in terms of his civility, not to mention the fact that he is very articulate. I respect him for those two reasons and many more. I hope I get to play some music with him sometime. For those of you who may not know, he has a weekly TV show on Fox TV, Saturdays at 7 p.m. Central. Again, I respect him because he's not afraid to have guests with differing opinions from his, and he expresses his opinions with civility.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Great feedback from a TWOM reader

A reader wrote the following to me today:

"Steve,

Thought I’d write my thoughts on Day 25 of your book, particularly the Action Points section.

Your comments about Jesus being comfortable and able to minister to/feel comfortable with people in any socio-economic class are so true. And this is where I struggle so much. During our ‘missionary days’, I had a definite problem with prejudice/bad attitudes toward wealthy people, even though many of them were our main financial supporters. I also had a bad attitude toward some of our co-missionaries that were better funded than we were.

That’s all behind me now, but I’m in a different situation now. I feel as if I am between (wealthier customers), for whom I manage their property, and our small staff , who are definitely on the opposite world of income and lifestyle. While our more direct contact is with our staff and our ("average" customers), we are in contact with the more wealthy (customers) too. . . .

The extreme differences in these two classes of people makes me wonder and try and understand more thoroughly how Jesus did that so effectively, and how I can be better at relating to both classes of people. To top it off, we do live in a nice place. . . and by all appearances we fall into the more wealthy category, particularly in this area of the U.S. where unemployment is high and average income is low."

Here was my reply to the reader:

Those are 2 great examples that you've personally experienced. I'm sure there are many more reasons than we'll ever know (this side of heaven) as to why/how Jesus was able to do that, but to me, 1 thing stands out: Jesus looked at people's hearts. We, on the other hand, typically look at their outward appearances and their "stuff."

In 1 Samuel 16:7, we find that even Samuel the great prophet (who heard God's voice audibly!) made that mistake when he was finding Israel's 2nd king. One thing I try to pray often is to see people as God sees them ("Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.") I want to see Him, but I also want to have the discernment from Him that will minister to whomever he brings across my path.

And as I say in the book, ministry is defined as "bringing someone closer to where they need to be, which is closer to God." I can't tell you how many wealthy people I've prayed with about their problems, which demonstrates that their needs to be closer to God are just as great as the needs of poor and middle class people. Besides, if money solved everything, there wouldn't be any messed-up people in Hollywood or Wall Street, would there?

Blessings,
Steve

Thanks to all of you for your support, and "keep those cards and letters comin'."

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Here's one of many great articles from one of my mentors, Patrice Tsague.

I highly recommend Patrice's information. Visit www.nehemiahproject.org to sign up for weekly emails like this, or to take a course on Biblical Entrepreneurship (which I recommend even for employees who think they will never start their own business).
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"...Yet who knows whether or not you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"~Esther 4:14b

Throughout biblical history, whenever nations or God's people faced a crisis, God always had someone prepared to respond to the crisis. In this week's devotional, I will discuss three biblical examples that may encourage and motivate you in the situation and circumstances where you find yourself today.

In 475 B.C. in Persia during the reign of King Xerxes, God's people faced possible extermination, but God had placed Esther in a unique position to save her people. Through the sovereign plan of God, what looked like a terrible thing-she was taken by force from her family and forced to marry the king-ended up being God's plan to have her in position to fulfill his purpose (Esther 8).

In 445 B.C. the returned exiles in Jerusalem were facing deplorable conditions: the walls of the city were down; the gates were burned with fire; there was no protection for the people of God. But God had positioned Nehemiah, a cup bearer, as a servant of the king. He was able to draw upon his favor with the king to rally resources to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem. As lonely and difficult as it may have been for Nehemiah to work for the nation that had taken his people captive, God placed him in this position so Nehemiah could fulfill God's purposes at the appropriate time (Nehemiah 6:15-16).

In Genesis 41 we learn about another period when Egypt, one of the most prosperous and advanced nations of the world at the time, faced a significant crisis. None of the priests of Egypt could interpret Pharaoh's dream - a dream that Pharaoh was sure was significant. Once the dream was interpreted by the Hebrew prisoner, Joseph, the Egyptians knew a severe famine was coming. They had reason to panic. They needed someone to take charge of the nation's economy to prevent the famine from destroying Egypt and the world. Pharaoh appointed this formerly unknown man, Joseph, a Hebrew in a foreign land, an ex-slave, a prisoner. Joseph was not only able to interpret the dream, but he put a system in place that enabled Egypt and the surrounding regions of the world to survive the famine. With the wisdom God gave Joseph, he ensured that the Egyptian "Federal Reserve" had abundant provision for the time of famine.

Joseph was born a dreamer and his father's favorite. Because of the jealousy of his brothers, he was thrown into the pit, sold into slavery, and then sent to prison for a crime he did not commit by a master he served faithfully. God used all these hardships to prepare Joseph and to have him in position to fulfill God's purposes in Egypt.

Where does God have you right now? You may be like Esther in a civil situation that you did not choose, but in a position of potential influence to further the work of the Kingdom of God and protect God's people. You may be like Nehemiah in a political situation that you would not prefer, but in a position with favor whereby you could impact the fate of God's people in America and the world. You could be like Joseph in an economic situation that you did not choose, but have the answers and solutions to assist in this time of crisis. Whatever your circumstances and position, you could be placed there for such a time as this.

And what if you do nothing? Remember what Mordecai told Esther: "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish" (Esther 4:14a). God does not place us in positions simply for our own comfort or pleasure, but rather to fulfill a purpose. Whether you are in government, in the workplace, or an entrepreneur, God has placed you in those circumstances for such a time as this. Call to mind all that He allowed you to go through for preparation. Was it all in vain? No! It was all to prepare and equip you. Find ways to use what God has put in you to contribute to His cause and bring solutions and answers for the marketplace problems the world faces today. If you can, and you do not, God will use someone else. And you will face the consequences of non-action.

Instead, take action. You must reject fear, cultivate courage, and pursue God's purposes to see His answers for the current crisis. Reflect upon these scriptures so you may be encouraged to fulfill God's purpose where you are: Jeremiah 1:4-8, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:18-39.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

True Riches in Every Area of Life

Wow! Look at all the benefits that come from doing things God's way!



Psalm 112:

1 Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.

2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

5 Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

7 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

9 They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.

10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Today’s WORD on Money™ is also on Facebook

I neglected to mention yesterday that when you visit www.todayswordonmoney.com, if you'll click on the "Facebook" symbol near the bottom left of our home page, you can go to our Facebook "fan" page. Then click "Become a Fan" near the top of that page so that you can stay current on our speaking and writing events.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Twitter and New Website for Today’s WORD on Money™

Hi Everyone!

Today we won't cover a new topic from the book. We just want you to know that we have begun to market Today’s WORD on Money™ with a new website, www.todayswordonmoney.com.

Also, if you "Tweet," you can follow us at www.twitter.com/TodaysWordMoney. We hope you enjoy the book!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Best Investment You Can Make Now

Day 3—Today’s WORD on Money™: The Best Investment You Can Make Now

Yesterday we examined the issue of ownership. The Bible also teaches that God gives us the freedom to accept or reject His authority in our lives. But before proceeding any further, let’s answer the question I’m most frequently asked: “Where is the best place to invest now?”

Earlier, we learned that each person’s eternal soul is worth more than everything on earth (Matthew 16:26). Things are temporary but souls are eternal. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells about a sower who harvests 100 times as much as he planted. In financial terms, that would be like investing $1000 and turning it into $100,000!

Most people think that gambling, not investing, is the only activity that might bring them a hundred-to-one return. Yet the Bible tells us that, instead of relying on “luck”, which really doesn’t even exist, anyone who follows God’s system has the potential to receive a 100-fold return. In other words, God wants all of his children to win, not just one person. So the Bible teaches that only blessings and cursings exist, not good luck and bad luck.

Soon, we’ll cover more on the topic of how to be blessed and not cursed. But in terms of investing, even a brief study of scripture reveals that if we help even one person change his or her eternal destination, we will receive a higher, spiritual return than that very rare person who receives a 100-to-1 monetary return.

Even though Christians should not gamble or rely on games of chance, it does not follow that we should never make financial investments. In fact, Matthew 25:27 teaches that good stewardship requires that we make a profit. Sometimes God may direct us to grow and hold assets for a period of time. But we must remember that the time may come when God asks us to use earthly profits to harvest heavenly treasure. I don’t know about you, but I frequently need to remind myself that God is my source, and not any of the assets that God entrusts to me for a season.

Some of our studies will mention ways to increase our financial profitability, because we are expected to make a monetary profit. But let us never lose sight of the fact that investing in God’s Kingdom is ultimately THE most profitable investment we can make.

Communicating with Your Spouse about Money

Valentine’s Day--Today’s WORD on Money™: Communicating with Your Spouse about Money

Money and finances are said to be the #1 topic of argument in many Christian marriages. Money is most often cited as the biggest factor causing divorce. Jesus said in Matthew 19 that humans should not separate what God has united. Now for those of you who have experienced divorce, this lesson is not meant to condemn you. But it is my prayer that this information will help all of you to have a more Godly marriage from now on.

Our firm does workshops and retreats to help couples understand how each spouse views money. For example, some people have a scarcity mentality, others have an affluence mentality. Some see money as status, others see it as security. Also, many couples don’t understand how to communicate in words that their spouse understands. One spouse may be very abstract and the other very concrete, for instance. (Yes, Virginia, opposites do attract. . . .)

Then there are even various issues within the larger topic of money: maybe the couple’s cash flow is fine, but they plan poorly for their tax payments. Or maybe they have done a good job at staying out of debt, but they haven’t made provisions for their children’s education costs.

I think now you may see that there can be so many variables involved in these issues, that communication can be very difficult. At this point, couples must remember Ephesians 4:15 and “speak the truth in love” to each other.

Martin Luther said, “Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let the husband make the wife sorry to see him leave.”

What wife would not love to have a husband like the one described in Ephesians 5:25? 1 God created men and women to be equal. To the extent women have not been treated equally, I agree with the Women’s Movement. But men, if we would step up and love women like Christ loved the church, I think we would remove most of the fuel that fires radical women’s rights groups today. For that matter, our demonstrating true Christian love would remove the fuel from many other “rights” groups also.

I pray that today each of us will redouble our commitment to love and honor our spouse.




1 “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” (Ephesians 5:26-27, NLT)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day--Today’s WORD on Money™: My “Proverbs 31 Girl”

For years I’ve called my wife a “Proverbs 31 Girl.” Verses 10-31 describe her “to a tee” (except, as she admits, the “up before dawn” part!). But I also have a confession: when our children were babies, she was the one to get up at night for them about 99% of the time. I hope all of you husbands and husbands-to-be are blessed like I am with a Proverbs 31 Wife. Below are the King James and the Message translations of verses 10 to 31.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (KJV)

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!” (Message)